Town U18’s Manager Alan McLoughlin hailed his side’s professionalism following their 2-0 victory away at Yeovil Town on Saturday, although he felt the margin of victory could and should have been even greater.
First-half efforts from Scott Twine and Jack Stanley were enough to wrap up the three points in the EFL Youth Alliance South-West Conference – their third victory in their last five outings.
“I was very pleased on Saturday,” McLoughlin told swindontownfc.co.uk.
“It was a two-hour journey on the minibus and you can get off the bus sometimes and be a little bit negative and just want to get the game finished, but it was important that they took the game in the right manner and right spirit, which they did.
“We actually arrived there and the game was called off, which we were a little bit annoyed about, but we then had the option to go onto the AstroTurf, three-quarter pitch at Yeovil and I was happy to go and play on there because we wanted the game played as we knew the boys were in-form and they were confident they would win the game if they played to their potential.
“It was a comfortable victory and, no disrespect to Yeovil, but it could have been 10-0 on the day.
“It was important for our goalkeeper Dan Lawrence who didn’t have too much to do in the game but what he did do he did well.
“He made a good save towards the end and his distribution was good throughout.
“We were collectively solid and the narrow pitch suited our diamond formation, so overall I was pleased with the performance.
“It could have been a lot more so the finishing needs to be improved. Scott Twine scored but he had one of those days where he could have had seven, although the pleasing thing is he is getting chances and he’s in the right places.
“Jordan Young played and looked a lot stronger so that was very pleasing and Sol Pryce was unplayable at times in terms of his strength, his mobility, his power and his pace.
“Everyone contributed to the game and the boys are moving the ball about a bit quicker now. There is a spring in their step now which is good and we defended and attacked well collectively - we just didn’t kill the game off and you always felt at 2-0 that Yeovil would have an opportunity to get back in the game.
“They had a little spell for ten minutes where they put us under some pressure but we dealt with it well, so overall it was a happy bus on the way back home.”
Some of McLoughlin’s side will be back in action on Tuesday when they feature in Town’s Central League clash away at Cheltenham Town (1pm Kick-Off), while those Second Year Scholars not involved will get a chance to train with the first-team under the watchful eye of Luke Williams and Tim Sherwood.
“The Second Year Scholars will get a chance to train with the first-team players tomorrow in a 11 V 11 scenario and I would like Tim to see some of the Second Years playing against the first-team,” he added.
“A lot of the subs at Cheltenham will be First-Year Scholars and that then allows the remaining Second-Years to play in the 11 V 11 game in training.
“It is an important time for the Second-Year Scholars with decisions to be made further down the line and I would like to give the first-team staff as much opportunity as they can to see the boys in action.
“I believe they have improved over the year and they have got stronger, which is credit to Tom Holmes and Dan Watson who have done fantastic this year and we have had very few injuries.
“I’m hoping that the players can lay a marker down over the next week and put something positive in the minds of the first-team staff.”
